Taikyoku sokugi sono ichi
Name
Romaji: Taikyoku sokugi sono ichi / Sokugi Taikyoku sono ichi
Japanese: 足技太極一段
Sokugi means foot or leg technique: the Taikyoku embusen trains kicks, support, retraction, foot placement and completion. Sono ichi means the first form. Sokugi Taikyoku sono ichi is an alternative name; Galaz Dojo keeps Taikyoku sokugi sono ichi for consistency.
Introduction
The first Sokugi form transfers basic Taikyoku structure to the legs. At turns, perform Kansetsu geri, set Zenkutsu-dachi and complete Kake wake uke. On advances, perform Mae keage, then set Zenkutsu-dachi. The relationship of direction, support, kick, retraction, stance, arm block, breathing and zanshin matters more than merely linking kicks.
Place in the system
Group: Foundational kicking kata. Level: Beginner / early kyu. Practise after understanding the basic Taikyoku embusen and simple kihon kicks. Check turning kicks, supporting-leg balance, hip control, controlled retraction, Zenkutsu-dachi after each kick, centre line, no corrective steps and zanshin after every action.
Technical profile
Stance: Zenkutsu-dachi. Foot techniques: Kansetsu geri, Mae keage. Hand technique: Kake wake uke. Movement: Taikyoku embusen with 90°, 180° and 270° turns. Kiai: 8 and 16. The focus is fundamental kick balance, support, retraction and completion.
Embusen and technical diagram
Diagram unavailable: The embusen diagram described in the source is absent from this edition. Follow the directions and movement sequence in the text.
The form follows the basic Taikyoku embusen, with 20 main counts. Read its directions and order alongside the sequence; a diagram alone cannot describe support, kick path, hips, retraction or breathing. Check main directions and turns, the supporting leg, controlled retraction, Zenkutsu-dachi after each kick, gaze before completion and absence of corrective steps.
Stances
Zenkutsu-dachi follows every kicking action and actively completes the technique. Keep the supporting leg stable, retract the kicking leg before setting it down, preserve the centre and land without corrective steps. The formal start and finish use Fudō-dachi.
After yoi, finish in Heikō-dachi according to dojo standard. Complete Kake wake uke together with the landing stance at the turns.
Principal techniques
Kansetsu geri develops sideward kicking, supporting-leg and hip control, with a low-line application such as the knee or leg. Mae keage uses an upward kick path, developing balance, range and controlled foot placement. Distinguish Mae keage from Mae geri; avoid a loose side swing or leaning backwards in the upward kick.
Zenkutsu-dachi after the kick supplies stability, direction and control. Retraction is as important as the kick: losing it undermines balance, direction and the next technique.
Kake wake uke follows Kansetsu geri as the foot lands in Zenkutsu-dachi; it completes the movement. In application it can open, deflect or separate after a kick.
Start and finish
Begin in Fudō-dachi, facing shinden. Announce Taikyoku sokugi sono ichi or Sokugi Taikyoku sono ichi according to dojo standard. On yoi, perform the slow preparation ending in Heikō-dachi. In mugōrei, perform without ongoing counting after hajime. Only the 20 main counts are numbered here; start, yoi, naore and yasume are separate. On naore, retract the left foot and return 90° anticlockwise to Fudō-dachi, retaining the preceding gaze direction until the turn finishes. On yasume, return to rest.
Movement sequence
The following teaching sequence supports practice and revision according to the selected Galaz Dojo/modern Kyokushin standard; it does not replace dojo instruction.
| No. | Direction | Stance | Technique | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn 90° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise, perform kansetsu geri, set Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 2 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 3 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform kansetsu geri, set Migi zenkutsu-dachi and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 4 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. |
| 5 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 6 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance. |
| 7 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari mae keage | Continue along the main line with controlled balance and retraction. |
| 8 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage, kiai | Finish the first main line with mae keage, kime and kiai. |
| 9 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn 270° anticlockwise, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 10 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance. |
| 11 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 12 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance. |
| 13 | Turn 90° left onto the main line | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn anticlockwise onto the main line, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 14 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance. |
| 15 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari mae keage | Continue along the main line, retaining height and direction. |
| 16 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage, kiai | Finish the second main line with mae keage, kime and kiai. |
| 17 | Turn 270° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn 270° anticlockwise, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 18 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi mae keage | Perform mae keage and advance. |
| 19 | Turn 180° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi kansetsu geri / kake wake uke | Turn clockwise to the opposite direction, perform kansetsu geri and finish with kake wake uke. |
| 20 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari mae keage | Finish the final technical movement with controlled posture, direction and zanshin. |
Breathing, rhythm and kiai
Distinguish the turning kick, forward kicks, retraction, foot placement and technical finish, especially through the longer 270° turns at 9 and 17. Kiai is at 8 and 16. Connect kick, recovery, landing and final technique as one action. Balance, controlled retraction and a stable finish take priority over uncontrolled height or speed; coordinate breath, kime and kiai with completion.
Technical key points
Lead turns and kicks with the gaze; pivot clearly before the side kick; keep the supporting leg stable; distinguish each kick path and contact surface; retract before setting down; set Zenkutsu-dachi without extra steps; retain an upright, centred upper body without leaning backwards; coordinate gaze, hips, kick, retraction and stance; keep height subordinate to control; and maintain zanshin between techniques. Check the 270° turns at 9 and 17 carefully.
Complete Kake wake uke with the stance, as part of the same technique.
Common errors
Uncontrolled leg swings, high kicks that lose balance, missing retraction, backward-leaning posture, unstable pivoting, unclear 270° turns, late gaze, setting the foot in the wrong direction, short/high/unbalanced Zenkutsu-dachi, extra corrective steps and breath, kiai or kime disconnected from the finish.
Forgetting Kake wake uke or adding it afterwards without stance connection and kime. Confusing Mae keage with Mae geri.
Bunkai and application
Keep applications simple and within the technical level. Explore kick, direction, distance and stance together. Pivoting changes direction towards a new attack; the supporting leg and hips provide balance, direction and power; Zenkutsu-dachi gives stability after the kick; and zanshin preserves readiness through retraction and foot placement. Practise with a partner under control, without exceeding what the form warrants.
Kansetsu geri develops sideward kicking, supporting-leg and hip control, with a low-line application such as the knee or leg. Mae keage uses an upward kick path, developing balance, range and controlled foot placement. Distinguish Mae keage from Mae geri; avoid a loose side swing or leaning backwards in the upward kick.
Zenkutsu-dachi after the kick supplies stability, direction and control. Retraction is as important as the kick: losing it undermines balance, direction and the next technique.
Kake wake uke follows Kansetsu geri as the foot lands in Zenkutsu-dachi; it completes the movement. In application it can open, deflect or separate after a kick.
Training method
- Review the embusen of Taikyoku sono ichi.
- Practise Kansetsu geri separately.
- Practise Kake wake uke separately.
- Practise Kansetsu geri, foot placement and Kake wake uke together.
- Practise Mae keage separately.
- Check the supporting leg and retraction.
- Add the turns slowly.
- Check 90°, 180° and 270° turns.
- Set Zenkutsu-dachi after every kick.
- Add breathing, rhythm, kime and kiai.
- Practise without counting, retaining zanshin from start to finish.
- Try simple partner bunkai, then return to the form.